These Are My JOTtings, Part #2

Joseph: "Just Being Me"

Young Joseph lived his life alone,
oft hated by those near.
His dreams were shared as future shown,
eliciting great fear.

Where fear is felt, there's anger shown
by those who seem too small.
Then envy enters, fully grown
to make the feared one fall.

"Dear Brother Man, we'll put you here,
'til all again is well.
We'll have your coat with a bloody smear,
and spin a yarn to tell."

"We'll get some cash as trader's dash,
but tell Dad you were food
for some wild beast that made you trash.
This lie won't seem as rude."

Then Joseph's life was sold twice more,
and served one Potiphar,
until the wife his youth adored
to reputation mar.

"Now, hear, Young Buck, that ain't the way
to make your life advance,
and in my house you'll ne'er more stay!
So, do the prison dance!"

Advanced he in the prison house
with two more dreams to tell,
but when it seemed his life would rouse,
he stayed two years as well.

When Pharaoh's two dreams took his sleep,
the butler 'membered Joe.
More silence he could never keep,
and caused his Pharaoh to know.

"My sin before me, now I see.
An inmate could thee heal.
He read my dream, and now I'm free.
The Truth in him is real."

Before the Pharaoh, brought in haste
was Joseph, meek and mild.
He knew the Lord through wisdom's grace
would make the leader smile.

"A wiser man is none but thee,"
quoth Pharaoh with great joy.
"You're second only unto me
in this new job's employ."

The land survived, and Joseph's hand
was strengthened by the Lord.
Promotion came from God as planned,
seen written in His Word.

How went his life by twists and turns
to one of greater power?
How could by hope and sweetest yearns
he stand in Pharaoh's hour?

His own strength could cause none of this.
Intelligence meant naught.
His path was ordained by the God of Bliss,
His way, Divinest wrought.

When Joseph shared his early dreams,
he was "just being me."
He did not lie, nor set up schemes,
but hated same was he.

Beware that honesty may cause
some trying days ahead
for Joseph had a silent pause,
and Jacob grieved him, "dead."

When others hate us for The Truth
some pain may fall to us,
but when the Lord of Lasting Youth
enjoins us Him to trust

The Day of Victory in His Time
will cause us then to know
for Lasting Joy with Him Sublime
is always His to show.

by Jay O’Toole
on May 13th, 2025